Trim fastening device



June 2, 1953 T. w. HosKlNG TRIM FASTENING DEVICE Filed Aug. 5, 1950 Patented June 2, 1953 TRIM FASTENING `DEVICE Thomas W. Hoskng, Detroit, `Mich., assigner 't0 ,Briggs Manufacturing Co., jletroit, iMich., a

corporation of Michigan Application August 5, 1950,"Seriai No. 17758.70

( Cl. 29e-*528.0

GClaims. i

`'-Ih'is invention relates to improvements in a vehicle body construct-ion and in particular to an improved interior trim panel and means vfor securing the same in position within the vehicle body.

An object of the invention is to provide an improved fastener structure for the juxtaposed interior trim panel and metal body panel of an automobile, including cooperating retainer and stud elements adapted to be secured together by snap-action, said elements -being relatively simple in construction and adapted to be fabricated at low cost.

Another object is to provide such a fastener struc-ture comprising a pair of resilient channelpanel of Aless width than the socket portion and terminate in flanges bent oppositely from each other against the panel, whereby the latter is loosely confined between the socket portion and anges so as to permit expansion of the channel mouth upon insertion of the male channel-like element therethrough.

Another and more specic object is to provide an improved vehicle pillar construction `and mounting for an interior trim panel comprising a vertical Ainward opening pillar channel having 4a vertical closure plate across the channel mouth and Asecured to the opposed inner edges thereof. In this structure, the female element is integral with the closure plate and comprises a channellike socket portion or receptacle extending longitudinally within the pillar channel. The channel mouth of the female element opens inward, i. e. in the same direction that the mouth of the pillar channel opens, and is partially closed or constricted and resiliently yieldable to receive in the manner ldescribed above an intertting longitudinally extending male channel-like element carried by the interior trim panel for the pillar.

L'By Athis construction, Aa rugged reinforced pillar structure is readily provided and the trim ill Z panel is lquickly and detachably secured thereto merely "by Isnap-ping the interfitting `mal-e .and female Jelements into resiliently maintained 'interlocking engagement with each other.

Other objects -of this invention Awill app-ear `in the following description and appended claims, reference being had to the accompanying ydrawings forming a part .of this specification wherein like reife-rence characters designate ycorresponding parts inthe several views.

Fig. l is a fragmentary side elevation with portions broken away, showing .an automobile body constructed in accordance with the .present invention.

IFig. i2 is a "fragmentary .enlarged horizontal section taken through the .central pillar fof the body in the Jdirection of the :arrows substantially along the line 2--2 of zFig. 1.

Fig. 3 is afperspective view showing :the :male fastening Aelem-ent of Fig. 2 before Ibeing attached to the interior trim panel.

Fig. 4 is vafr-ag-rrientary enlarged horizontal section through -a portion of the door panel, taken lin the direction of the arrows substantially along the lin-e 4-4 of Fig. 1 and showing a modification of the fastener embodying the present invention.

Fig. '5 vis an exploded perspective view showing the `male and female 'fastening elements `of Fig. Il prior to their attachment with the interior rim panel and .door panel respectively.

Fig. 6 is v'a perspective view showing another modification of a male fastening element embodying the present invention.

Fig. '7 is a section taken in the direction of the arrows `substantially along the line '1 -1 of Fig. 6.

'It i-s to be understood that the present invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and arrangement of 'parts illustrated in the accompanying drawings, since the invention is I'capable of other embodiments and of rbeing 'practiced or carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology or terminology employed herein is for the `pur-pose of description and not of limitation.

Referring particularly to Figs. 1 and 2, an automobile body is shown having a central pillar A against which the `doors B and C close. The pillar A comprises an outer channel Il] opening inward and formed with the vusual vertically extending rabbeted portions ll vand l2 against which the doors B and 'C close. The pillar A also comprises an inner supporting channel I3 which opens inward and is Closed at the inner face of the pillar by a vertical pressed metal closure plate I4. The forward and rearward vertical edges of the latter are bent inward and toward each other to provide a pair of vertically extending retaining flanges Ida, each spaced slightly inward from the inner surface of the plate I4 to provide a corresponding pair of retaining channels of hairpin section, Fig. 2. The vertically extending base of each retaining channel comprises the forward and rearward vertical edge respectively of the closure plate I4 and is welded to the corresponding adjacent inner edge of the Supporting channel I 3. Secured within each of the hairpin retainingr channels is the bent back hook portion |511 of a suitable fastening member I5 which loops closely around the inner surface of the associated flange Ida and is embedded within the compressible body of a windlass I6 extending longitudinally of the inner edge of the pillar A in position to serve as a batteri between the latter and adjacent closed door B or C. The fastener I5 is preferably of spring material so as to hold the windlass yieldingly against the associated closed door and may comprise a continuous convoluted wire formed construction extending the length of the windlass I6. Also spacing the inner edges of the supporting channel l 3 at the lower portion thereof is a channel-like reinforcing member I1, the lower end of which bends inward below the pillar A for supporting attachment with the vehicle frame.

In the present instance, the portion of the fastener member I5 adjacent the inner surface of the associated flange Ida is held snugly against that flange by an interior trim panel which extends completely across the inner surface of the pillar and is firmly secured thereto as discussed below. The trim panel may in general be of conventional construction comprising a rigid fibrous backing I8, an intermediate padding layer I9, and an inner trimlayer of plastic or fabric material 29 overlying the inner surface of the padding layer and having marginal portions tucked around and suitably cemented or bonded to the backside of the foundation.

In order to effect a simple positive attachment between the pillar and the interior trim panel, the plate I4 is provided with a central vertically extending channel element 2| which projects from the panel I4 outward with respect to the i vehicle body into the channel of the pillar and enlarges from a reduced or constricted resiliently expansible neck portion 22 partially closing the channel mouth. Aligned to fit within the enlarged body portion of the channel 2| are a plurality of vertically spaced resilient pressed metal channel-like inserts 23, each having an enlarged channel body opening inward through a reduced channel neck portion 24 and being insertable into the channel 2| upon mutual yielding of the insert 23 and the channel neck 22. The opposed sidewalls of each channel element 23 are flared at 25 so as to lie flat against the outer surface of the backing I8, each terminating in a pair of retaining prongs 26 which extend through the backing I8 and are secured thereto by bending snugly against the inner surface thereof. In order to facilitate fabrication of the pillar trim panel, the channel-like inserts 23 are preferably formed as indicated in Fig. 3 with the prongs 26- extending substantially at right angles to the flanges 25. The prongs are inserted through the backing I8 or through apertures therein and clinched over against its inner face as indicated in Fig. 2 prior to application of the padding layer I9. Thereafter the layers I9 and 20 are superimposed on the backing I 9 and the panel is completed by customary methods.

The resiliency of the material of the channel elements 2| and 23 is determined so that the element 23 may be removably forced or snapped into interlocking engagement with the element 2 I, or Withdrawn therefrom, by passage through its channel mouth. The two channel elements are preferably dimensioned so that upon insertion of the element 23 into the element 2 I, these elements will remain in spring pressed engagement with each other as indicated in Fig. 2 to prevent play and rattling. In this regard, the opposed sidewall portions of the element 2| curve cylindrically toward the reduced neck 22 so as to press snugly against corresponding cylindrically curved sidewall portions of the intertting element 23 near the reduced neck 24 and thereby to exert a continuous spring force tending to cam the element 23 into the channel of the element 2|. As a result, the interior trim panel is drawn rmly toward the plate I9.

Where it is desired to increase the yieldability of the channel element 23, each of the opposed portions of the neck 29 at each end is provided with a small slot 21 extending partially the length thereof, Fig. 3. In order to hold the trim panel against vertical displacement a short horizontal channel element 28 is provided in the plate I4, as for example near the top thereof, Fig. l, and an intertting horizontal channel insert 23 is carried by the trim panel to support the latter upon being inserted into the channel 28.

Referring to Figs. 'l and 5, a modification of the present invention is shown employed with an interior trim panel for the vehicle door C having an interior sheet metal panel 29 provided with a number of slot-like apertures 39 near its edges. Extending longitudinally of each slot-like opening 30 is a cylindrically curved channel-like socket element or receptacle 3| of slightly greater diameter than the width of the aperture 3U. Intermediate the ends of the socket element 3|, its curved sidewalls converge to a reduced Ichannel neck 32 which extends inwardly freely through the aperture 3B, Fig. 4. The opposed portions of the channel neck 32 bend oppositely from each other in rounded flanges 33 which terminate snugly against the inner surface of the panel 29. As indicated in Fig. 4, the width of the neck 32 is determined so that in the untensioned condition of the latter, it will be spaced slightly from the adjacent edges of the aperture 39 on either side. Thus the channel mouth may be widened by springing the opposed portions of the neck 32 away from each other.

At each end of the intermediate neck 32, the sidewalls of the channel element 3| extend through the aperture 30 in reduced neck Aportions 35, Fig. 5, which snugly engage the adjacent edges of the aperture 3|] to prevent play or movement of the channel element 3| and terminate in flanges 36 bent snugly against the inner surface of the panel 29. Referring to Fig. 5, the portion of the neck 32 and flange 33 on each side of the channel element 3| are spaced at each end from the corresponding adjacent neck portion 35 and flange 36 by a narrow slot 31 extending transversely of the channel element 3|, which thereby permits flexing of the opposed portions of the neck 32 independently of the neck portions 35. In order to facilitate assembly of the channel elements 3| with the panel 29, the former may be lSl .formed with the flanges 33, 36 extend-` prising two pairs of opposed flanges spaced by the neck portions, `each :flange of each pair being integral with one of each of the opposed sides of the channel body adjacent and spaced from the corresponding neck portion and passing through the aperture closely adjacent the corresponding side thereof and folded oppositely from the opposed ange of the pair snugly against said other side of the panel, an interior trim panel for said body panel, a channel-like insert of resilient material having an enlarged :channel body opening through a channel neck of reduced width to a channel mouth confronting the back side of the trim panel, the sides of the insert at the channel mouth thereof being oppositely flared adjacent the back side of the trim panel and being secured to the latter panel, the enlarged channel body of the insert being resiliently yieldable for insertion through the receptacle mouth and being dimensioned to lit snugly within the receptacle With the insert neck passing through the receptacle mouth, the receptacle neck portions being like-v wise resiliently yieldable for passage of the enlarged insert channel body therethrough.

4. In a vehicle body construction, a rigid body panel having a plurality of spaced slot-like apertures therein, means for releasably engaging a fastener insert and comprising a channel-like receptacle of resilient material associated with each aperture and having an enlarged channel body on one side of the panel of greater width than the aperture, the opposed sides of the channel body having neck portions passing freely through the aperture in spaced relation to the edges of the latter and aring oppositely from each other at a channel mouth opening on the other side of the panel, means to secure the panel and receptacle together comprising two pairs of opposed flanges spaced by the neck portions, each flange of each pair being integral with one of each of the opposed sides of the channel body adjacent and spaced from the corresponding neck portion and passing through the aperture closely adjacent the corresponding side thereof and folded oppositely from the opposed ange of the pair iirmly against said other side of the panel.

5. In a fastener device for a panel, a channellike receptacle of resilient material having an enlarged channel body at one side of the panel and opening at a channel mouth through a reduced channel neck passing freely through a slot-like aperture in the panel, the opposed channel sides at the neck being thereby adapted to be yieldingly sprung apart from each other toward the edges of said aperture, the opposed channel sides at the mouth flaring outwardly from each other adjacent the other side of the panel, and two pairs of opposed flanges spaced longitudinally of the receptacle by the channel neck, each flange of each pair passing through the aperture in closely iitting engagement with one of each of the edges of the aperture and being integral with one of each of the opposed sides of the channel body and spaced endwise of the channel neck, the flanges of each pair being folded oppositely from each other tightly against said other side of the panel.

d, In a fastener device for a panel, a channellike receptacle of resilient material having an enlarged channel body at one side of the panel and opening. at a channel mouth through a reduced channel neck passing freely through a slot-like aperture in the panel, the opposed channel sides at the neck being thereby adapted to be yieldingly sprung apart from each other toward the edges of said aperture, the opposed channel sides at the mouth daring outwardly from each other adjacent the other side of the panel, and means to secure the panel and receptacle together including opposed flange means integral with the receptacle and passing through the aperture in closely tting engagement with the opposed edges of the latter and also folded oppositely from each other tightly against said other side of the panel.

THOMAS W. HOSKING.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 608,495 Walter Aug. 2, 1898 622,220 Goldsborough Apr. 4, 1899 997,214 Steiner July 4, 1911 1,200,743 Marendowski Oct. 10, 1916 1,872,149 Ledwinka Aug. 16, 1932 2,014,419 Voigt Sept. 17, 1935 2,169,503 Schlegel Aug. 15, 1939 2,199,347 Roethel Apr. 30, 1940 2,231,316 Bailey Feb. 11, 1941 

